GLISPA Events 2014

Location: Apia Waterfront Beach, Samoa, as part of the United Nations Conference on Small Island Developing States (UNSIDS)

Host: The Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage led by Master Navigator Nainoa Thompson as President of the Polynesian Voyaging Society was supported to arrive and engage at UNSIDS by the Global Island Partnership, United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), State of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Green Growth, Tuputupu-A’e Education Trust, Samoa Voyaging Society, Conservation International, Rare, IUCN, Sylvia Earle Alliance and Mission Blue.

Description: The Hawaiian voyaging canoes, Hōkūle‘a and Hikianalia, are journeying around the world to learn, create global relationships, and explore how to care for our oceans and Island Earth.

The Hōkūle‘a and her crew set sail from Hawai‘i in May 2014 as part of the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage and used only the tools available to Polynesian ancestors to navigate to Samoa via French Polynesia, Cook Islands and American Samoa, for the United Nations Conference of Small Island Developing States (UNSIDS). These courageous navigators brought the stories of our world’s oceans to inspire action for a sustainable and resilient future for our island Earth.

After the conference, the Hōkūle‘a and her crew continued to journey around the world, carrying an ocean and island message to 26 nations during its 47,000 nautical-mile voyage.

The Hōkūle‘a and her crew were located at the Apia Waterfront Beach for the duration of the conference. Participants were encouraged to visit the crew and look for them as they engaged in the conference and undertake activities around Apia.